They’re ‘wife and wife'

They’re ‘wife and wife'

Jenny-Anne Bishop, 65, formerly called Paul, and Elen Heart, 68, who was once named Alan

At the register office Elen had to be ambiguous, so we made sure she got to celebrate her femininity at the church

Jenny-Anne, who was married for 31 years until divorcing in 2000

Jenny-Anne Bishop, 65, formerly called Paul, and Elen Heart, 68, who was once named Alan, got together as a male gay couple in 2004.

But last year Jenny-Anne went under the knife, enabling the couple to wed as man and wife.

They tied the knot at the weekend in a civil ceremony near their home in Clwyd, north Wales – then followed that with a gay wedding service at Manchester’s Metropolitan Community Church.

The pair, who are both divorced and have five grown-up children between them, lived together for six years as transgender lesbians until Jenny-Anne’s breast augmentation procedure and facial feminisation surgery.

Jenny-Anne, who was married for 31 years until divorcing in 2000, said: “It was a beautiful weekend. We had so much support and sheer love from our friends and the wider community.

“At the register office Elen had to be ambiguous, so we made sure she got to celebrate her femininity at the church, where we were pronounced ‘wife and wife’.”